The number of people living in homeless shelters in New York City has hit a record high.

The number of people living in homeless shelters in New York City has hit a record high, marking a 19-percent jump compared to 2012, a report says.

The Coalition for the Homeless released its 2013 State of the Homeless report on Tuesday, revealing that an average of 50,135 New Yorkers have been sleeping in emergency shelters as of January, which shows a 61-percent increase since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took office in 2002.

The agency attributed the increase in the homeless population to the prolonged stay of people in shelters, showing the average stay being a record 375 days.

Mary Brosnahan, the president of the Coalition for the Homeless, said, “Unimaginable just a few years ago, New York City now has the shameful distinction of being home to more than 50,000 homeless people, including more than 21,000 children.”

Child homelessness surged 22 percent in 2012, Brosnahan stated.

“New York is facing a homeless crisis worse than any time since the Great Depression.”

The report also indicated that the growing rate of homelessness in New York City reflects a broader national trend, with a rising number of families without permanent housing.

Meanwhile, a report released by the United States Conference of Mayors has found that the lack of affordable housing, rising poverty and unemployment are the root causes of homelessness among families with children.